Device for exhibiting school-charts



(No Model.)

. MMBBN.

DEVICE POR BITING SCHOOL CHARTS.

Pat

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.4

entedDeo. 6, 1887.

E V @WMM/m ao! U Ma o vato@ UNITED STATES PATENTV OFFICE.

JOHN DOUGLAS MOMEEN, OF MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR EXHIBITING SCHOOL-CHARTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,486, dated December 6, 1887.

vApplication filed August 19, 1887. Serial No. 247,382. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DoUGLAs Mc- MEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Jefferson and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Exhibiting School-Charts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for exhibiting school-charts; and it consists in the peculiar construction and com bination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a chart-exhibiting machine embodying my improvements, the inclosingcase being removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line x x of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line y y of Fig. 1. taken on the linc z z of Fig. 2.

A represents a rectangular inclosing-case of suitable size, in the central portion of which is a horizontal board or platform, B, which extends nearly from one end of the case to the other. From the upper side of the said board or platform, at its front corners, project vertical posts or standards O and C'. On the top of the platform adjacent to the inner sides of standards C are parallel guideways D and E.

F represents a vertical standard, which rises from the platform I3, near one end thereof and on the outer side of the guideway I). In the upper end of this standard is journaled a shaft, G, which is attached to a clock-work, H, or other suitable actuating-motor, and to the in ner end of the said shaft is attached a spurwheel, I.

Krepresents a slide, which is fitted to the guideway, and is adapted 'to be directed by the latter.

L represents a shaft, which is journaled transversely in the slide K, near the inner end thereof, and M represents a similar shaft, which is j ournaled in the said slide near it-s front end. The shaft L has a spur-wheel, N, on its outer end, having the same number of teeth as the 5o Wheel I, and to the inner endof the said shaft is attached a pinion, O, which is smallerthan thewheel N. To the outer ends of the shaft Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view M is. attached a spur-wheel, I), having the same number of teeth and cogs as the wheel I,

and to the inner end of the said shaft is at.- V

tached a spur-wheel, R, having twice as many cogs.

On the upper side of the platform, at the center thereof, is arranged a pair of standards or blocks, S, in which is journaled a shaft, T, which aligns with the shaft G. The end of the said shaft T, which is presented to the slide K, has a pinion, U, of the same size as pinion O. The opposite end of the said shaft T has a spur-wheel, V, which corresponds in size with wheel I.

WV represents a slide, which operates on the guideway E. Near the rear end of this slide is journaled a transverse shaft, X, the inner end of which has a spur-Wheel, Z, and the outer end of which has a sector-shaped spurwheel, A.

B represents a similar shaft, which is journaled in the slide WV, near its front end. This shaft has a spur-wheel, C', secured to its inner end and a sector-wheel, D', secured to its outer end, the said sector-wheel being much larger than Wheel A. 4

E represents a lever, which is fulcrumed on a spindle, F, that projects from the inner side of the standard O. The lower end of this lever is connected to the front end of the slide L, and the upper end of the said lever is adapted to engage either of a series of notches or detents, G, H, and I', in the upper end of standard C. K represents a similar lever, which is fulcrumed on aspindle, L', that projects from the inner side of standard C. The lower end of this lever is connected to the slide W, and the upper endV thereof is adapted to engage either of a series of notches or detents, M, N, and O. By means of these levers the slides may be moved endwise, so as to cause either of the Wheels on the inner sides of the said slides to engage the walls on the endsof shaft T, or the said slides may be moved in such a position as to cause their wheels to disengage the wheels on shaft T and thereby disconnect them from each other.

P represents an arm, which projects from the end of the platform or board adjacent to slide W, and from the upper side of the said arm at its outer end extends a vertical standard, R.

IOO

S' represents an inclined arm, which is attached to the front side of the arm P', and has its upper and lower ends bifurcated. In the bifurcated upper end of the arm S is journaled a shaft, T', which aligns with the shafts G and T, and is provided at its inner end with a pinion, U', which is adapted to engage with either of the sector-wheels A and D.

V represents a drum of suitable diameter, which is rigidly secured to the shaft T', near the inner ends thereof', and is provided on its outer side at its center with a countersuuk recess, "W', in one side of which is a projection or shoulder, X'.

Y' represents a drum of similar size, which is fitted loosely on the shaft T', and is adapted to slide longitudinally thereon. This drum has a sleeve, Z', on one side adapted to enter the countersunk opening WV', and provided with a spur, A2, adapted to engage the shou1- der or offset X'. From the opposite side of the drum Y projects a sleeve, B2.

C2 represents a coiled extensile spring, which is placed on thc outer end of shaft T' and bears between the arm S', and the outer side of the collar or sleeve B2, the function of this spring being to normally move the drum Y' toward the drum Y and keep it in contact therewith.

D2 represents a hand-lever, which is fulcrumed on a stud that projects from the rear side of standard R' and has its lower end conf nected to sleeve or collar B2. The function of this hand-lever is to move the drum Y' from the drum V and disengage it from the latter, for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

In the lower end of the arm S' isa shalt, E2, on which are journaled pulleys F2 and G2,that

, are arranged inline with the drums Y' and V'.

H2 represents a spindle, which projects from the inner front corner of the platform B, and on which is journaled a sheave or pulley, l2, the width of which is equal to the combined widths of the pulleys F2 and G2. An opening, K2, is made in the front side of the inclosingcase just in front of pulley I2, the said opening having a pane of glass therein.

L2 represents a lever, which is fulcrumed on a stud that projects from the inner rear corner of platform B. The outer end of the said lever engages one of a series of ratchet-teeth, M2, on the inner end of the said platform, and the lower end of the said lever has an outwardextending horizontal spindle, N2, on which are journaled pulleys O2 and P2, which align, respectively, with the drums V and Y'.

R2 represents an endless belt, which passes over the drum V2, pulley l2, pulley F2, and pulley O2.

S2 represents a similar endless belt, which passes over the drum Y2 and the pulleys l2, G2, and P2.

From the foregoing description it will be `readily understood'that when the shaft T' is rotated with the drums it causes the endless belts to pass behind the opening K2. On the endless belt R2 is secured an endless chart, b, and on the endless belt S2 is secured a similar chart, a. These charts are divided into spaces arranged at suitable regular distances apart corresponding exactly to the circumference of the faces of the drums V and Y'. When the charts are to be employed for teaching children to read, each space in the chart a will be inscribed with the subject of a simple sentence, and each space in the chartb will be inscribed With the predicate of asimple sentence, such as will make sense with any of the subjects on chart a. The endless belts and the charts thereon are so adjusted on the drums as to cause the predicates on the chart b to align with the subjects on the chart a, and thereby form complete sentences.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The clock work or motor is set in operation so as to rotate the shaft G and thereby turn the spur-wheel I. The lever E' is caused to engage the detentnotcl1 I', and thereby move the slide K and cause the wheel N to mesh with wheel I, and the wheel O to mesh with the wheel U on shaft T. The lever Kis caused to engage the detent-notch O', and thereby move the slide lV, so as to cause the wheel Z to mesh with wheel V and the sector A' to engage the wheel U'. The rotary motion of the shaftG is thereby imparted through the gear-shafts L, T, and X, to the shaft T', as will be readily understood, thereby causing the drums to rotate and the charts to be moved past the opening in the case, and thereby display the sentences on the said charts successively through the said opening. At each rotation of the shaft X, when that portion of the sector A which is without heat is turned to the wheel U', the latter is disengaged by the sector momentarily, as will be readily understood, and consequently the shaft T' with its drums is caused to momen tarily cease rotating, and thereby cause the charts to stop an instant, the said charts being so arranged on the drum as to have one of their sentences arranged before the opening K2, while the charts are still, thus causing each sentence on the charts to be successively displayed through the opening K' during the periods of resting of the charts. The pupils read the sentences as they are displayed through the opening. After the charts have :made one entire circuit before the opening K2, the teacher grasps the lever D2 and causes the drum Y' to be disengaged from the drum V' while the latter is making onerotation, thus causing the chart b to move through one space while the chart a is at rest, thereby forming the predicates and subjects into new combina` tions to construct new sentences, as will be readily understood, the number of sentences thus adapted to be formed being the square of the number of subjects or predicates on the charts.

If it be desired to increase the rate of speed at 'which the charts travel past the displayopening, this may be done by causing the lever E' to engage the detent notch G' and thereby move the slide K, so as to cause the wheel P to engage the wheel I and the large IOO IlO

wheel R to engage wheel S. If it be desired to still further increase the rate of speed of the charts, the lever K' is caused to engage the detent-notoh M and thereby shift the slide W, so as to cause the wheel G' to engage the Wheel V and the large sector D to engage the wheel U'.

The lever L2 is useful in tightening the endless belts from time to time as the latter stretch, this being done by turning the said lever on its fulcrum in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, and causing it to en! gage one of the ratchet-teeth M2. l

The charts may be inscribed with figures to adaptthem for use in giving examples in arithmetic, or they may be adapted to convey any desired information to the scholars.

I have not more clearly shown or particularly described the clock work or motor connected to the operating-shaft G, for the reason that any suitable clock work or motor may be employed for this purpose, and the same forms no part of my present improvement. If preferred, a crank may be attached to the shaft G and the latter turned by hand.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination of the shaft T', havingV the pinion U' and the drums attached thereto,` one of the said drums being adjustable on the shaft, the guiding-pulleys, the endlessl charts arranged on the drums and the guiding-pulleys whereby the said charts are caused to pass simultaneously a given point of observa tion, and the rotating shafthaving the sector engaging the pinion T' to intermittently opcrate the endless charts, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the endless charts guided on suitable pulleys, the rotating` shaft T', having the fast drum V', engaging one of the charts, and thelooselongitudinally-mova` ble drum Y', engaging the-upper part of the said drum V', having the offset or shoulder X', and the drum Y', having the spur A2 to engage the said offset or shoulder, the spring bearing against the drum Y', to keep it normally in contact with the. drum V', and the lever D2, to disengage the drum Y' from the drum D', for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the endless charts guided on suitable pulleys, the shaft T', having the drums engaging the said charts to actuate the same, and provided with the Wheel U', the rotating shaft T, having the wheel V, means to rotate the said shaft, and the movable slide W, having the shaft X, provided with the wheel Z, to engage wheel V, and the wheel A, to engage wheel V, and the large wheel D,to engage wheel U', substantially las described.

4. The combination of the endless charts guided on suitable pulleys, the shaft T',Ahaving the drums engaging the charts and provided with the wheel U', and the rotating shaft having the sector to engage the wheel U' and thereby intermittently operate the end` less charts, for the purpose set forth, the motor and connections between the same and the said shaft having the sector, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the endless charts guided on suitable pulleys, the rotating shaft T', having the drums engaging thesaid charts and provided with the wheel U', the slide W, provided with the shafts having the wheels A' and D' on one end, adapted to engage the wheel U' alternately and provided with the pinions at their opposite extremities, the shaft T, having the wheel V at one end, adapted to engage either of the pinions of slide NV, and provided at the opposite end with the pinion U, the slide K, having the shaft provided at one end with wheels of unequal size, adapted to alternately engage the pinion U, and having the pinions I) and N at their opposite extremities,the standard F, the driving-shaft G, journaled therein and having the Wheel I to engage either 0f the wheels l and N, and the levers to move the slides, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own VI have hereto atiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DOUGLAS MCMEEN.

Witnesses:

BILLINGTON MCMEEN, JAs. D. PACE. 

